A/N- Sorry for the long wait, everyone. I had a bit of writer's block along with a lack of internet. Even now, I'm using the computer at school to post. Anyhow, here's the next chapter!

Chapter 3

Coal chuckled darkly to herself as she watched the people of the kingdom scramble about, panicked that their king and queen were stone. Her pet goblin--of whom she only ever called "goblin"--stood behind her, positively bouncing with the joy of watching the people within the bowl of water scurry about. It was as if he could smell their fear even from where he and his mistress were at.

The more people Coal and her goblin viewed, the more excited her pet became. Finally, on accident, the beast bounced right into the back of his mistress, causing her arm to be thrown forward and knock the bowl of water over, destroying their scrying spell. She whirled, bringing the back of her left hand about, slapping the monster.

"Stupid, stupid creature! Look what you've done!" she screamed, bringing her hand up to hit him again.

The goblin cowered before her, his hands raised protectively in front of his face.

"Forgive, forgive!" he cried. He wasn't very articulate. Coal had no use for a servant with "thoughts."

She brought her hand down and brought the other up to cup the goblin's face in her hands. She smiled another lifeless smile and shook her head.

"Never mind it, Goblin. Let us go see Master Darkness. Turning the King and Queen to stone was only phase one," she said.

She strode forth from the room, her goblin in tow at a respectable four paces behind her. As she passed through the dark and dreary halls of the Great Tree, the servants of Darkness bowed deeply to her. For she was Coal, Darkness's chosen second-in-command, forged into such by his own hand. But that was not the only reason they bowed. They bowed before her in recognition of true Dark power. All knew she possessed such power, for how could someone who has never had to bow before Darkness not have it?

Coal entered the throne room of Darkness with a flourish of opening both of the great doors at once. Her goblin waited for her outside. Darkness sat upon his throne, his robe hiding his cloven feet. She did not even wait to be beckoned forth. She simply approached him and crossed her arms before herself.

"I have completed my first task. I await the other, my dark lord," she said, rather lazily.

Darkness smiled, his ferocious teeth fully shown. He inclined his great horned head ever so slightly in acknowledgement of her deed.

"Very good. I see that you truly will not fail me. Excellent," he said.

Coal did not even acknowledge his praise, even though she knew that he did not give such loosely. She only stood before him, one eyebrow raised.

"My second task?" she asked, unimpressed.

"Very well. Now, listen closely. This is the most important of all."

This alone seemed to spark a light in the voids that were this dark child's eyes. The corners of her mouth turned up somewhat in anticipation of this "important" task. Things were about to become very interesting for her.

…………………

Miles away, Diamond quietly entered the chapel in the palace. It's high ceiling and decorative stained-glass windows never ceased to awe her, even though she had entered this place many, many times over.

She made her way up the aisle between the two rows of pews to the alter at the head of the chapel. There, with his back to her, was High Priest Luca. He turned and smiled warmly at the princess. Diamond knelt before him.

The previous High Priest had passed away many months before and had named Luca his successor. The man before her was elderly, at least sixty to sixty-five years of age. However, no one would ever have guessed over fifty the way he moved so swiftly in his gold-embroidered white robes. The staff he carried served for both religious purposes and a walking stick. He held it in his right hand as he placed his left on Diamond's forehead.

"Bless you, Princess, and rise. Please, why have you come before me?" he asked, his voice a warm one.

Diamond stood, keeping her eyes placed respectfully toward the ground.

"I come seeking advice. You have…heard what happened to my parents?" she asked, her voice a whisper.

Even in the low tones, her voice carried around the chapel. High Priest Luca's face grew sad.

"Yes, dear one. I believe the entire kingdom knows. I am sorry, but there is nothing I can do for them," he said.

"I know, sir. But Gump knows of something that can help…but he requests that I go with him. He wants me to travel into Elderborn with him," Diamond explained.

"Ah, I understand. And you want to know if your kingdom will be well without you?"

"Well…yes."

The High Priest turned away, apparently pondering over any possible solutions. When he turned back, he rested his staff against a nearby wall and placed both hands on Diamond's shoulders.

"I believe you must go. Your kingdom will be safe in the hands of such people as myself. We will keep it safe for your return…right now, we need our king and queen back. I believe you are destined to play a part in that."

Diamond nodded. A fear and excitement crept into her. She feared what lie ahead, but the fact that she could play a part in helping…she looked up into the elderly priest's eyes.

"Thank you. I shall go inform Gump immediately."

She inclined her head slowly, then, turned and scurried from the chapel.

End Notes: Okay, so that was kind of short, but it was a transition. I hope everyone enjoyed that. Please review!